Travel Insurance

[houseflipper48]

We have always cruised without getting travel insurance, and this time we are debating to get it or not. If we decide to, should we go thru Carnival or other places? Can anyone suggest a good company to get it from?

[Sdallnct]

We have always bought it. And have had to use it twice. We always go thru Carnival (or whatever line we were traveling).

[brnsnbrws]

Originally Posted by Sdallnct

We have always bought it. And have had to use it twice. We always go thru Carnival (or whatever line we were traveling).

Didn't purchase through Carnival, but did purchase travel insurance. How long did it take to get a response when you filed a claim. We were on Valor nov. 8 thru 15th.(week after you) Late night on the 10th we got word my mother-in-law had died. We could not get a flight the next day for 5 out of Roatan but we did get a flight 2 days later out of Belize. It was pretty expensive to fly back. Don't know if any of our cruise will be covered or not. We did have trip interruption coverage. I recommend everyone getting insurance.

[Ken076]

Originally Posted by houseflipper48

We have always cruised without getting travel insurance, and this time we are debating to get it or not. If we decide to, should we go thru Carnival or other places? Can anyone suggest a good company to get it from?

The Carnival Berkely Policy offers very low Medical coverage, marginal MedEvac coverage and no "Waiver of Pre-Existing Conditions" (but DOES offer Future Cruise CREDIT if your claim is denied as due to Pre-Existing Condition) and as of 7/01/2009 includes cancellation coverage for Hurricane Warning, and cancellation coverage for Job Layoff. If you cancel your Cruise before final Payment the Carnival Policy premium is refundable. Carnival and Berkely both CLAIM that the Policy also covers your independently purchased AirFare. The Carnival Policy is a good deal financially (only) if you're in upper 60's or over, as Age is not factored into the Premium as it is with 3rd Party Policies.

The 3rd Party Policies such as CSA, Travel-Ex and Travel-Insured offer much higher coverages are much less expensive if you're younger, and generally offer "Waiver of Pre-Existing Conditions" if you purchase w/in 14-21 days of Cruise Deposit (CSA and HTH allow you to purchase up to Final Payment and retain the Waiver). Most Policies are “Secondary” meaning that you have to first file claims with your own Health/Homeowners Insurance and the 3rd party Policy will pay what your insurance doesn’t pay (up to limits of the policy). If you're traveling with kids, checkout TravelEx and TravelInsured, who insure Kids free with insured adults.

Note that some Insurers pay only for your Emergency Medical Expenses during the cruise and do NOT pay the continuing medical excpenses for the injury/illness once youreturn home. Carnival Berkely and CSA pay continuing Medical Expenses; TravelEx and TravelEx do NOT.

TravelEX is PRIMARY and includes kids under 16 free and offers a Business/Military upgrade.

CSA Freestyle includes Cancellation for Layoff and for School Year Extension.

Patriot TRIP is PRIMARY coverage and includes Cancellation for Layoff, Cancelled Leave for Military, Fire & Police and Missed cruise for flite delay.

TravelInsured includes kids insured free with insured adult.

TravelSafe includes Cancel for Hurricane Warning and Cancel for Any Reason (not always 100%).

You need to select your purchase based on YOUR personal situation and insurance concerns.

ken